Mountain spirit and tiger

Place of OriginKorea

Date1800-1900

DynastyJoseon dynasty (1392-1910)

MaterialsInk and colors on paper

DimensionsH. 49 1/4 in x W. 29 1/4 in, H. 125.1 cm x W. 74.3 cm (image); H. 88 7/8 in x W. 35 1/4 in, H. 225.7 cm x W. 89.5.2 cm (overall)

Credit LineAcquisition made possible by Dr. and Mrs. David Buchanan, with the assistance of The Honorable Joseph P. Carroll and Roberta Carroll, M.D.

Object number2000.8

DepartmentKorean Art

ClassificationsPainting

On View

Not on view

More Information

A tiger is curled up against an old man with a fan. This pair typically represents the god who governs mountains in Korea. In folk myths during the pre-modern era of Korea, the tiger was venerated as a rider, messenger, or some other image of the mountain god, and was believed to safeguard surrounding villages. The man, with his protruded forehead and long fingernails, follows the visual tradition of Daoist immortals, while the tiger follows traditional images of folk art, in which tigers are portrayed freely and humorously. Paintings like this one would be hung at an independent shrine dedicated to the mountain spirit or a small sanctuary in a Buddhist monastery.

Subject